diff --git a/kernel/audit.c b/kernel/audit.c
index 5ffcbd3..6d00bd1 100644
--- a/kernel/audit.c
+++ b/kernel/audit.c
@@ -1400,7 +1400,7 @@
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
-	if (!reserve)
+	if (!reserve && !audit_backlog_wait_time)
 		audit_backlog_wait_time = audit_backlog_wait_time_master;
 
 	ab = audit_buffer_alloc(ctx, gfp_mask, type);